Allergies and Hayfever

There are a range of treatments that are available for dealing with hay fever, including tablets, eye drops, nasal spray and injections, which makes it easier for you to find a solution to your hay fever or allergy problem.

What Is Hay Fever?

Hay fever occurs due to an allergic reaction to pollen, when tiny pollen particles come into contact with your mouth, eyes or throat, they become irritated and cause a reaction. Hay fever affects one in five people in the UK; with the most common cause being grass pollen. Hay fever is an allergy that occurs when your body makes antibodies in response to certain triggers, in this case pollen. The most common symptoms to look out for are:

Itchy eyes

Sneezing

Watery eyes

Stuffy nose

Itchy throat, mouth or ears

Coughing

Headache

Earache

Fatigue or tiredness

If you also suffer from asthma, these symptoms could also worsen and you may suffer from a tight chest, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.

What Causes Hay Fever?

The pollen that causes hay fever will vary from one person to another, and also depend on geographical location. The amount of pollen that is in the air will have a direct effect on how bad your hay fever symptoms will be. If the weather is hot & dry then it is more likely there will be more pollen in the air, if it is a cool day with rain & damp, then the amount of pollen in the air will be reduced. During the pollen season plants release pollen early in the morning, as the day gets warmer the pollen levels rise and on sunny days the pollen count is usually the highest in the early evening.

When you begin to have an allergic reaction, your body starts to react and your immune system starts to respond as if it is being attacked by a virus. The immune system releases chemicals designed to prevent the attack of the wrongly perceived infection, which causes the symptoms of watery eyes and a runny nose.There are many different types of pollen, therefore depending on what type of pollen you are allergic to will depend on what time of year your symptoms will occur. Different trees and plants produce pollen at different times of the year, in the UK the pollen count season is separated into 3 seasons:

Tree Pollen – late March > mid May

Grass Pollen – mid May > July

Weed Pollen – June – September

Relieving Hay Fever Symptoms:

The best way to relieve hay fever symptoms or calm them is to avoid exposure to pollen, this can be difficult, but some of the best tips are to keep windows closed during the evening & first thing in the morning. Stay indoors when the pollen count is at its highest. Avoid mowing lawns or sitting in fields that have freshly cut grass. Try to wash your hands & face regularly during peak times. Also try to avoid exposure to other allergens such as pet fur, sprays or cigarette smoke.

As well as these steps there are also over the counter products that can help to calm & treat symptoms of Hay Fever, such as nasal spray, tablets, eye drops and liquid. The most common form of treatment is Antihistamines, these tablets work by blocking the action of histamine, which is a chemical that is released by the body when exposed to pollen. These tablets work best when they are taken all the way through hay fever season and ideally taken a few weeks before common symptoms start to occur, if they strike at a similar time every year. Antihistamines and other hay fever relief treatments are available to buy online from Manor Pharmacy, all with FREE UK mainland delivery.